Earlier this month, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participated in the annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President’s Park. This event has become part of our “civic religion.” Its Christian roots are obvious, but the gospel of Jesus Christ has faded a bit into the background. As America has become more diverse, a consensus has grown suggesting it would be inappropriate to be too overtly Christian at the tree lighting. In December 2024, then-President Biden lit the tree and dedicated it to “A Season of Peace and Light.” He spoke of “the peace we feel as we pause and reflect on our blessings and the light—the light we see as we gather with loved ones that cherish our time together.” He then referred to a phrase in the Christmas carol “O Holy Night” that says, “His law is love, and His gospel is peace.” The “His” in the song obviously refers to Jesus, but apparently saying the name of Christ would be in bad taste in diverse America. At the very end, God did get a shout-out. Biden ended with the exhortation, “And may God bless you all. And may God protect—may God ...